Owner’s anger at dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A PET owner who was bitten as her pet was attacked by a vicious dog in Tatem Park has called for changes to the way police investigate such attacks.

Kelly Oliver, of Wilbury Way, Edmonton, was walking her five-year-old Cairn Terrier Millie in the park off Hedge Lane, Palmers Green, on Wednesday evening when another dog attacked them.

The 31-year-old was bitten on the hand as she tried to prise away the aggressive dog. She had to go to hospital for a tetanus injection and is now on antibiotics.

 

Miss Oliver is calling for changes to the way police deal with such incidents. She said: “The police took a statement but only because I was bitten, otherwise nothing would have been done.

“I think there needs to be a change – why has it got to take a dog to bite a human for action to be taken?

“If a dog can attack a little dog like Millie like that, then they can do it to anyone.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We take dog injuries seriously but with this case we do not have any information on the attacking dog, the owner has not been identified. At this stage no further action can be taken.”

Miss Oliver fainted in the vets as Millie had to have surgery after the attack left her with two puncture wounds and a tear in her stomach.

She also had to take time off work to look after Millie and now faces a vet bill of about £1,000.

She said: “I think the owner of the dog knew his dog might attack Millie by the way he screamed at it. Dogs like this should be kept on leads, as it could have been a child.

“I’m not sure what type of dog it was but it looked like a possible cross between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and something else.”

A police spokeswoman added: “If the woman sees the dog again and is concerned about its behaviour, she should contact police.”

(North London Newspaper - Oct 19, 2011)